Ken leaped down, and the branch came with him. George came running up, his face white, his eyes big. Behind him rose a roar that Ken thought might be another drove of pigs till he saw smoke and flame.
"Boys, the jungle's on fire. Run for the river!"
In their hurry they miscalculated the location of camp and dashed out of the jungle over a steep bank, and they all had a tumble. It was necessary to wade to reach the rocky ledge.
Ken shook hands with Pepe.
"George, tell him that was a nervy thing to do. He saved my life, I do believe."
"You fellows did a lot of hollering," said Hal, from his perch in the boat.
"Say, young man, you've got to go back after my gun. Why didn't you do what I told you? Foolish, to run into danger that way!" declared Ken, severely.
"You don't suppose I was going to overlook a chance to see Ken Ward treed, do you?"
"Well, you saw him, and that was no joke. But I wish Pepe could have scared those pigs off without firing the jungle."
"Pepe says it 'll give the ticks a good roasting," said George.